More on Skirts

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

The truth is, one must be sinless to be Christian. Unless one here can honestly say before God and man that they are totally sinless, there isn't a Christian among us. Period.

If one no longer has a sinful nature, they cannot sin...it is against their nature, it is impossible. It will naturally be repugnant to them. Therefore, if we are not sinless, or should sin tomorrow, it is evidence of that we are clearly not born again.

Do the math. Sin equals unsaved. It's not that hard. We're all fakes. Every last one of us. Unless there's someone here that is indeed sinless. Which, there isn't.

Aquila, Paul said if you are still a thief stop stealing.
That couldn't get any plainer than that. This isn't AA or NA you receive the Holy Ghost to enable you to eat straw like an ox, to lay down with a lamb, to not strike venom to the innocent infant who plays on the entrance of your den. Paul discribes the change of nature. It can be done. Jesus speaks of two masters one God, the other mammon. From all of what you have posted recently you have your love an attention on something else. That is what keeps you sliding downward. Get a divorce from whatever is pulling you downward. Only you know what that is. You and Jesus Christ.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Sometimes I wonder if it matters what preachers preach. As you said, preachers used to preach. Yet here we are. Seems that preaching didnt stick? I've watched people who know and lived the truth just up and out of nowhere toss it all behind their back for the shallowest and dumbest of excuses. People raised on a steady diet of scripture and no fluff preaching. People with living examples before them of folks walking with God, through good and bad, success and failures. People who have testimonies of miracles, answered prayer, hard lessons learned, etc.

Gone like up in smoke, like it was all just a dream and they suddenly woke up and realized the REALLY important thing was some temporary flash in the pan. God was in the way of their "felt needs" so guess what they chose to struggle against? God, of all things. Deny self? Take up your cross? Yeah, well, this is a "special circumstance".

I'm learning that some folks (most?) just don't have it in them, and it dont look like God is putting it in them, either.

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

Or, maybe it's the End of Days.

it's really important that we understand that what we do is going to impact so many people, God may ask us to do something that makes us very unhappy, but if we don't obey God our family, our church, and many other people are going to suffer because of our disobedience. The temporary pain that comes from obeying God is nothing compared to the devastation that results from disobedience. If people could truly grasp that they would just obey.

People often say *I just want to be happy* Our happiness doesn't matter, peace with God is so much greater than then *just being happy*

[Evang.Benincasa]

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal NO MORE: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Is the admonishment to the thief that he is to steal less, or to stop stealing all together? is the admonishment to the adultress who was going to be stoned, to go sin less, or sin no more. The Bible's instruction is that you are to not continue in sin that grace may become greater for you. Because it doesn't become greater for you. The power of the cross is what we need, not our own human discipline. This isn't the military of man were you have to train yourself to do as they say. This is the army of the Lord where you allow His love and care to lead you to greener pastures, to lay beside still waters.

Submit yourself to GOD and Satan will run from you.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Amanah

it's really important that we understand that what we do is going to impact so many people, God may ask us to do something that makes us very unhappy, but if we don't obey God our family, our church, and many other people are going to suffer because of our disobedience. The temporary pain that comes from obeying God is nothing compared to the devastation that results from disobedience. If people could truly grasp that they would just obey.

People often say *I just want to be happy* Our happiness doesn't matter, peace with God is so much greater than then *just being happy*

Excellent!

[JoeBandy]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I hear a lot of "God is the God of second chances" preaching. I could use a little more hell is hot but heaven is not.

Preachers use to preach

• if you are not reading your bible, praying, and talking in tongues every day, you are lost
• you need to pray for a burden and win souls.
• Be at the church 30-60 minutes before service for pre service prayer
• worship God like its a rapture test
• Get right or get left
• If you look like the world and talk like the world, guess what

Well most of us realized that your first 4 points are not salvific! Your 5th point is all that matters. The first four are nothing more than a performance based salvation and completely nulls the true and complete work of the Cross.

[good samaritan]

EB, although we may disagree about the magnitued of Peters offence, I liked something that you said about Paul. You said something to the effect that Paul did Peter a favor. That is true. Things do sometimes creep into a Christians life: pride, envy, jealousy, hatred, etc.. That is why church is necessary part of a Christians life. We need others who can keep an eye on us and keep us sharp, expose us at times.

I have found as a pastor myself that the ministry often lacks this. Most church's have a pastor who stands above everyone else. He is isolated in his labor and allowed to unknowingly shape into something that he ought not. It is not until that the situation esculates and a horrific sin comes out that he is ever recognized. Every minister needs ministry himself. It is a dangerous place for us to isolate ourselves, because the Holy Ghost often wants to speak to us through others as well.
PS it isn't enough to show up at church. Many go and hide at church, but we should be going to be found.

[JoeBandy]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal NO MORE: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Is the admonishment to the thief that he is to steal less, or to stop stealing all together? is the admonishment to the adultress who was going to be stoned, to go sin less, or sin no more. The Bible's instruction is that you are to not continue in sin that grace may become greater for you. Because it doesn't become greater for you. The power of the cross is what we need, not our own human discipline. This isn't the military of man were you have to train yourself to do as they say. This is the army of the Lord where you allow His love and care to lead you to greener pastures, to lay beside still waters.

Submit yourself to GOD and Satan will run from you.

IMO there is a link between this subject and the fact that Peter was given the keys to the kingdom. Remember Peter was given the keys to the kingdom before his denial of Christ. Not once but THREE times he denied! We don't find in scripture that the keys were taken from Peter and given to another. Thus leading to Peter standing up and answering the question, Men and brethren what must we do to be saved? In our present state how much credit would we put in a preacher who has sinned not once but three times the same sin??

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by JoeBandy

Well most of us realized that your first 4 points are not salvific! Your 5th point is all that matters. The first four are nothing more than a performance based salvation and completely nulls the true and complete work of the Cross.

Thank you for explaining.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by JoeBandy

IMO there is a link between this subject and the fact that Peter was given the keys to the kingdom. Remember Peter was given the keys to the kingdom before his denial of Christ. Not once but THREE times he denied! We don't find in scripture that the keys were taken from Peter and given to another. Thus leading to Peter standing up and answering the question, Men and brethren what must we do to be saved? In our present state how much credit would we put in a preacher who has sinned not once but three times the same sin??

The keys to the kingdom are not just Peter's alone, but they belong to the entire Church. Think about a set of keys. Keys are to give someone entrance through a locked door. The door locked was the kingdom. Peter got the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. That is the keys to the kingdom (the gospel of JEsus Christ). By Peter recognizing this he was taking hold of the keys to eternal life. Born again Christian must possess the keys(gospel) if they are to enter in.

If Peter goes on to preach Acts 2:38 repentance, water baptism in Jesus name, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost we can trust that. The scritpure had already proven that he had it right, he had already recieved the keys to the kingdom (the gospel of Jesus Christ).

Peter had almost lost what he had. Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith fail not. Peter denied Christ because of lack of faith. Remember that while Jesus was with Peter he was willing to take up arms and fight, but When they took Jesus away then the doubt set in. Peter had a different outcome in mind for the Messiah the Son of God. When that cock crew after the third denial, Peter realized what Jesus had told. Re-establing his faith, as well as convicting him that he had ever denied. Peter repented and went on to preach at Pentecost.

I don't license failure, but I am glad that God is merciful.

[JoeBandy]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

The keys to the kingdom are not just Peter's alone, but they belong to the entire Church. Think about a set of keys. Keys are to give someone entrance through a locked door. The door locked was the kingdom. Peter got the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. That is the keys to the kingdom (the gospel of JEsus Christ). By Peter recognizing this he was taking hold of the keys to eternal life. Born again Christian must possess the keys(gospel) if they are to enter in.

If Peter goes on to preach Acts 2:38 repentance, water baptism in Jesus name, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost we can trust that. The scritpure had already proven that he had it right, he had already recieved the keys to the kingdom (the gospel of Jesus Christ).

Peter had almost lost what he had. Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith fail not. Peter denied Christ because of lack of faith. Remember that while Jesus was with Peter he was willing to take up arms and fight, but When they took Jesus away then the doubt set in. Peter had a different outcome in mind for the Messiah the Son of God. When that cock crew after the third denial, Peter realized what Jesus had told. Re-establing his faith, as well as convicting him that he had ever denied. Peter repented and went on to preach at Pentecost.

I don't license failure, but I am glad that God is merciful.

I agree. I look at it like this... Jesus was with Peter ( us being in church), Jesus being taken away ( this is us during the week - sometimes our faith will fade doubt sets in and we sin) We repent and start over . Who are we to put a number of times this cycle may be repeated? Remember the 7 x 70 analogy?